[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 131 (Monday, August 10, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E783]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     RECOGNIZING BRIGGS & STRATTON AND THE WORKERS OF POPLAR BLUFF

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JASON SMITH

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, August 10, 2026

  Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a truly 
extraordinary achievement by one of Missouri's most dedicated 
employers--Briggs & Stratton--and to recognize the men and women of 
Poplar Bluff, Missouri, whose skill, dedication, and hard work have 
made this moment possible.
  This past June, the Briggs & Stratton facility in Poplar Bluff 
achieved a milestone that few manufacturers in American history can 
claim: the production of its 100 millionth engine. These are the very 
engines that power lawnmowers and outdoor equipment that families and 
workers across our nation rely on every single day.
  Briggs & Stratton is a pillar of the Poplar Bluff community. For 
nearly four decades, through economic cycles, industry disruptions, and 
moments of national uncertainty, Briggs & Stratton chose to stay in 
Poplar Bluff to invest in this community, to employ its residents, and 
to build something lasting here in the heart of Missouri.
  The workers of this facility are the true authors of this milestone, 
with many of them giving decades of their lives to this plant. Look no 
further than brothers Jerry and Billy Young, who have both dedicated 
over 30 years of service to this facility. They, alongside so many 
others who have followed in the footsteps of a parent or relative on 
these same lines, are the definition of the American worker: skilled, 
loyal, and proud. The economic impact of this facility on Poplar Bluff 
and Butler County has been profound. For 37 years, Briggs & Stratton 
has provided family-sustaining wages, supported local suppliers and 
businesses, contributed to the tax base that funds schools and 
infrastructure, and invested in the community that has been its home. 
This is what a company that believes in the American worker and the 
American community looks like.
  American manufacturing is alive, strong, and flourishing in Poplar 
Bluff, Missouri. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating 
Briggs & Stratton, its leadership, and above all the dedicated 
workforce of the Poplar Bluff facility on this remarkable achievement.

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